Toobs part 2!

Joey_V

Ok guys.... I'm making a new thread apart from the original "Help me with toobs" thread.

So as of today, I took home a demo unit of the ROGUE AUDIO Metis Preamplifier..... and it DOES make a difference. I'm not going to overhype it, but there is a difference in how the vocals are presented. The focus is slightly better, although I think I lost a little bit of air. The instruments sound even more solid - which I thought wasnt possible at the level it was before.

Apparently the Summits have some legroom left to work with.... what an UNREAL pair of speakers.

I like the improved imaging... now... do I keep this good ROGUE/ROTEL combo? I mean, I could always get a Plinius SA100mk3 100watt Class A amp asap....

Or do I still go for the mighty MUSICAL FIDELITY KW500?

Here are some pics... the demo cost me the $775.... but I can return the product tomorrow if I dont want it. The Rogue Metis costs $1200+tax normally.


Check out the massive remote! Cool!!


This Rogue Audio gear is pretty well made.... no wonder the Metis made TAS Choice award.

I have until tomorrow to decide on the MF KW500...

Alright.. I need opinions from my Polk brethren.

Joey_V

On the other hand... the KW500 is sooo monstrous....

audiobliss

What's that 'Slim Devices' thing on top of the Rogue preamp?

organ

Man, this is super expensive gear you're dealing with. Can you demo the MF?
That Rogue looks very sexy.

Ricardo

Options..options....you have mentioned only a couple from thousands; you could go with the KW500, or keep that tube pre (or any other) and get a nice SS amp (like the Belles...I am so impressed on how sweet the 350a sounds) from, again, many options, or you could get a nice tube amp.....thousands of options.

I have never heard or seen the summits, but if I were you, I would get a decent tube pre and a beast/musical SS amp; this combination has proven to be a good one with most speakers, and it will probably get you to a point very close to "diminishing" returns. Maybe work a bit on the source area.

Whatever you do, I'm sure it will make you happy.

organ

audiobliss wrote:

What's that 'Slim Devices' thing on top of the Rogue preamp?

I'm wondering the same thing.

tryrrthg

Without a doubt, get the MF!

Emlyn

With $2,000 (used market) worth of Rogue preamp/Rotel amp, you could have a Musical Fidelity nuVista integrated for around the same amount and you wouldn't need any interconnects or concern that the combo doesn't work best together. Or, for around $1,000 more than you've got there, have one of the best amplifiers available in the world in the kW500 or Trivista, or a Plinius, BAT, Ayre, Mark Levinson, etc, etc. The incremental change method sometimes doesn't work well or make sense, especially not when the speakers are so much better than anything else in the room. Get something else.

Joey_V

Brother just demoed the system... yup.. after 1 A/Bx... he says there is a substantial difference!

Keep the Rogue or blow the bank and get the monster KW500.... this is a toughie.

It already sounds so very very good.... I'm not sure if I want to mess with this.

Joey_V

organ wrote:

I'm wondering the same thing.

It's the Squeezebox3 baby!

Joey_V

Dude.... a Plinius SA102 just went on sale on the 'gon... $2800 for the monster. I could go with that AND keep the Rogue.

NOOOO.... soo much to decisions to make!

Here are some Plinius Class A pics to whet your appetite!

Joey_V

OK...

MF KW500

or

Plinius SA102 + Rogue Metis preamplifier

????

That's where I'm at right now. Any suggestions would help.

Early B.

Go with Musical Fidelity.

audiobliss

Hmm. My personaly choice, based on no experience, knowledge, or anything else would be the Rogue and Plinius. Hmm...I thought Troy taught me about babbling on about things which I have no knowledge of.

One point, though, is that a Plinius is not now available. If you go with the MF gear, you get to add another experience under your belt, then you can flip them and AT LEAST break even when something else comes along.

Joey_V

Plinius is available at the moment, audiobliss.

audiobliss

Well, fine...just totally ruin my only decent redeeming point! :mad: :rolleyes:

polkatese

Plinius is too polite, go with a Krell 400xi or a Pass Labs...

Joey_V

Man... I've been listening to my rig for the past 1 hour and it sounds really really good. I have a much tighter image... didnt think that was possible, but it's right there... infront of me.

I'm not even sure if it's worth getting either superamps at the moment. It seems to me like this Rogue/Rotel1090 combo is hella good.

audiobliss

But, isn't that just what you thought about the Rotel pre/amp combo? You said you didn't think certain things could've improved, but they did. So who knows what would improve if you went a step (or two) farther.

Joey_V

audiobliss wrote:

But, isn't that just what you thought about the Rotel pre/amp combo? You said you didn't think certain things could've improved, but they did. So who knows what would improve if you went a step (or two) farther.

You got me there... .

tryrrthg

Joey_V wrote:

OK...

MF KW500

or

Plinius SA102 + Rogue Metis preamplifier

????

That's where I'm at right now. Any suggestions would help.

You're putting too much stock into what a good amp will do for you. The preamp is just as, if not more, important than the amp. Even with the Plinius amp the pre will be holding you back. Get the MF, it's high end, one of the best in the world! Plus there are only 500 in existense, which makes it pretty unique and should hold value well. Great pre section, great amp section, done deal!

Joey_V

I see..... go big or go home.

That's what everyone is saying.

*opens wallet*

madmax

Think of it this way, 3K isn't that big in the scheme of things. Whatever you get you can pretty much move on later with no loss so long as you get it used. Me personally, that MF would probably be waiting on my front porch soon.
madmax

reeltrouble1

Just buy the MF, then when your ready for the next step, if that even happens I will gladly take it off your hands.

RT1

Dennis Gardner

I think you have an overkill setup regardless of any more changes. Your real gain will come when you have a listening room set up to showcase what you already have.

Imagine a Dodge Viper engine sitting pretty inside the engine bay of your Neon! Alot of potential, unrealized. JMO

Joey_V

Thanks for all the input.

I like the Plinius because I like the idea of being able to upgrade the tube pre at a future date... with the MF KW500, I'm stuck. With an tube pre at hand, I can always tube roll.

Still hairy... I better decide soon, the amps cant both be saved for me.

audiobliss

Hey....yeah, that's the solution....by 'em all!

Early B.

Got damn, MF -- make a MF decision and stop MF foolin' around, you MF!
Just get the MF MF and hook that MF up, then get grab a MF beer, sit your MF **** down, and listen to your MF new system. ****.

Ricardo

Early B. wrote:

Got damn, MF -- make a MF decision and stop MF foolin' around, you MF!
Just get the MF MF and hook that MF up, then get grab a MF beer, sit your MF **** down, and listen to your MF new system. ****.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

tryrrthg

Early B. wrote:

Got damn, MF -- make a MF decision and stop MF foolin' around, you MF!
Just get the MF MF and hook that MF up, then get grab a MF beer, sit your MF **** down, and listen to your MF new system. ****.

Can I get an AMEN!?

Joey_V

http://www.martinloganowners.com/~tdacquis/forum/showthread.php?t=2836